HISTORY 


OF  THE 


SOOTH  FORK  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION 


BY 


W.   A.    GRAHAM, 


LINCOLN  TON,  N.  C: 

JOURNAL  PRINTING    COMPANY, 
1899. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/historyofsouthfoOOgrah 


HISTORY  OF 

SOUTH  FORK  ASSOCIATION. 


CO 

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CHAPTER  I. 

The  Work  of  the  liapt  ists  from  the  Settlement  of  the  Country  Until  th« 
Formation  of  the  Catawba  River  Association  in  1827. 

THE  BROAD  RIVER    ASSOCIATION. 

The  "pioneer"  work  of  the  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  the 
Sandy  Creek,  N.  C,  Baptist  Associations  is  divided  in  2\Forth 
Carolina  by  the  Catawba  river  with  tew  exceptions. 

The  Yadkin,  So"th  Yadkin  and  part  of  Catawba  River 
Associations  are  the  woik  of  the  Sandy  Creek  Association. 
The  Green  River,  Broad  River,  King's  Mountain,  South 
Fork,  part  of  Catawba  River,  French  Broad,  and  nearly  all 
the  pioneer  work  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge,  of  the  Charleston 
Association  and  its  successors. 

The  Charleston  Association  was  formed  in  1751  of  four 
churches.  The  Congaree,  including  the  upper  portion  of  the 
state,  was  formed  in  1771,  "but  on  account  of  its  interference 
with  the  internal  discipline  of  the  churches,  infringing  on 
their  independence,1'  it  was  disbanded  after  an  existence  of  a 
few  years. 

The  Bethel  Association  was  formed  in  1789,  being  com- 
posed mainly  of  the  churches  which  had  belonged  to  the 
Congaree  and  those  formed  in  its  territory  since  its  dissolu- 
tion. 

Long  Creek  Church  was  a  member  of  this  Association. 
.  The  Broad  River  Association  was  formed  in  1800  at  Sandy 
River  Church  in  Cleveland  (then  Rutherford)  county,  N.  (J. 
It  was  composed  of  Tyger  River,  Buffalo,  Goucher's  Creek, 
Buck  Creek,  Cedar  Springs,  State  Line,  and  Boiling  Springs 
Churches  in  Spartanburg  county,  South  Carolina;  Sandy 
Run,  Green's  Creek,  Green  River,  Mountain  Creek  and  Billy 
Creek  in  Rutherford  county,  N.  C. ;  Long  Creek,  Lincoln 
county;  Silver  Creek,  Burke  county;  Mountain  Creek  and 
Caney  River,  Buncombe  county. 


20  SOUTH  FORK  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION. 

It  is  sometimes  asserted  that  Buffalo,  Long  Creek  and 
Sandy  Run  churches  were  organized  by  two  visiting  minis- 
ters, or  missionaries,  from  the  Sandy  Creek  Association. 
The  time  of  this  visit  is  stated  by  some  to  be  1772,  by  others, 
1777.  From  what  evidence  I  can  gather,  it  seems  probable 
that  these  churches  were  constituted  in  1772  by  ministers  in 
the  Broad  River  Association  and  that  the  "visitors"  came  in 
1777,  found  them  "inactive1'  and  put  them  again  to  work. 

If  these  visitors  came  in  1772  they  found  Friendship, 
Green's  Creek,  Boiling  Springs  and  Goucher's  Creek,  with 
perhaps  others,  at  work  in  this  territory.  If  in  1777,  the 
number  had  been  considerably  increased. 

Whoever  may  have  constituted  these  churches,  their 
development  and  the  occupation  of  the  contiguous  territory 
was  the  work  of  the  Broad  River  Association. 

The  trade  or  commerce  of  the  country  was  through 
Charleston.  There  was  no  occasion  to  go  in  the  direction  of 
the  Sandy  Creek  Association,  except  upon  the  call  of  the 
government  for  services  at  the  courts,  or  military  duty.  Is 
it  not  natural  that  the  religious  work  followed  the  business 
routes?  The  missionaries  probably  reported  the  country 
"occupied,"  as  the  Sandy  Creek  Association  did  not  send  any 
others  to  prosecute  the  work. 

I— LOJSG  CREEK. 

This  is  the  oldest  church  in  the  territory  of  the  South 
Fork  Association.  The  time  of  its  organization  is  uncertain, 
some  claiming  1772,  others  1777.  It  was  a  member  of  the 
Bethel  Association,  which  was  formed  in  1789.  It  is  on  Long 
fcXJreek,  Gaston,  formerly  Lincoln,  county,  and  about  one  mile 
from  Dallas.  There  are  no  records  of  its  earliest  history. 
Its  church  records  begin  with  a  reorganization  in  1794,  as 
follows: —  ;.'#»'! 

"We  the  Baptist  Church  of  church  on  the  Catawba  River, 
Lincoln  county,  State  of  North  Carolina,  on  Long  Creek, 
being  constituted,  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  1794,  by  our 
beloved  brethren  Cleveland  Coffee  and  Davidson  Collins, 
ministers  of  the  same  faith,  having  entered  into  covenant 
With  the  law  and  one  another,  do  think  it  expedient  to  keep  a 
book  of  discipline,  to  which  we  have  set  the  names  of  our 
elders  and  deacons  and   the  number  of  our   members  in  the 


SOUTH   FORK   BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  21 

Lord,  to  which  is  annexed  our  covenant  with  the  further 
events. 

4 'Elders — Lemuel  Sanders,  Charley  Jones. 

"Deacons — Samuel  Swanengam,  James  Weathers,  Julius 
Holland,  Isaac  West,  James  West. 

"Members — James  Weathers,  Ralph  Cobb,  Charley  Jones, 
John  Weathers,  Cornelius  Rodger,  Reuben  Jenkins." 

The  same  year  the  membership  was  increased  to  sixty- 
three. 

Deacon  Julius  Holland  afteiward  became  a  minister  and 
his  death  is  noticed  in  the  minutes  of  the  Broad  River  Asso- 
ciation of  1814. 

James  Lewis  was  also  a  member  of  this  church  and  some- 
times its  pastor.  His  death  is  recorded  in  the  minutes  of 
1834.  His  grandchildren,  J.  R.  Lewis,  of  Dallas,  and  Mrs.  J. 
D.  Moore,  of  Gastonia,  are  active  workers  in  the  South  Fork 
Association. 

The  Broad  River  Association  met  with  the  church  in  1833. 

Long  Creek  continued  a  member  of  the  Broad  River  Asso- 
ciation until  1852.  It  united  with  the  King's  Mountain  in 
1854,  and  the  Catawba  River  in  1863. 

II— HEBRON  CHURCH. 

Abernethy's  ferry,  (now  known  as  Rozzell's,)  was  on  the 
Catawba  river,  twelve  miles  west  of  Charlotte,  at  the  point 
wh«re  the  plank  road  to  Lincolnton  crosses  the  river.  It 
was  the  head  of  navigation.  "Flat  boats,"  laden  with  cotton 
and  other  produce,  passed  down  the  river  from  here  to 
Charleston,  which  was  the  "entre  port"  for  all  this  section. 
The  boats  were  frequently  sold  after  the  cargo  had  been  dis- 
posed of,  as  "poling"  against  the  current  frequently  left  but 
little  for  "freighting  charges"  above  expenses.  There  was 
a  canal  from  the  Santee  river  to  Charleston. 

At  the  session  of  1788,  the  Legislature  of  the  State  granted 
a  charter  to  a  company  to  "remove  obstructions  to  naviga- 
tion in  the  Catawba  River."  One  or  more  appropriations 
were  made  to  aid  the  work.  The  race  now  used  at  Mountain 
Island  Mills  was  cut  to  avoid  the  shoal,  as  was  also  the  one 
at  the  "Powder  Mill"  at  Tuckaseege  Ford.  Boating  was  con- 
tinued until  1836,  Afterwards  the  people  of  the  country 
went  by  wagon  to  Camden  and  then  by  boat  to  Charleston 


22  SOUTH   FORK   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 

although  they  sometimes  made  the  entire  trip  in  wagons. 
On  the  Western,  or  Lincoln,  side  of  the  Catawba,  at  Aber- 
nethy's  Ferry,  was  located  Hebron  Church,  a  sketch  of 
which,  prepared  by  its  order,  I  insert:  — 

Hebron  Baptist  church  was  organized  at  Abernethy  5s 
Ferry,  on  the  Catawba  river,  in  Lincoln  county,  N.  C,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  18th  century.  The  log  house  in  which 
these  people  worshipped  first  stood  on  the  river  bank, 
immediately  at  the  ferry.  No  records  of  the  church  are 
known  to  exist  earlier  than  1834,  but  Uadition  and  references 
in  old  deeds,  carry  us  back  to  1792. 

An  old  negro  woman  now  living,  and  nearly  one  hundred 
years  old,  whose  name  appears  on  the  old  church  roll  as 
"Sally,  servant  of  Mr.  Henderson,"  says  her  husband,  Jake, 
who  belonged  to  Richard  Rozzell,  told  her  that  he  was  at  the 
"raising"  of  the  old  church,  and  that  James  Abernethy 
"took  up1'  one  corner.  This  James  Abernethy  was  drowned 
in  1785. 

The  tract  of  land  on  which  the  church  stood  was  conveyed 
to  Nathan  Abernethy  by  James  Abernethy  and  his  mother, 
Elizabeth,  on  the  28th  day  of  March,  1792.  Nathan  Aber- 
nethy sold  to  Nathan  Saddler  August  20th,  1803. 

The  following  deed  is  recorded  in  Book  No.  27,  page  635, 
Lincoln  county  records:  "This  indenture  made  this  4th  day 
of  May  1816,  between  Nathaniel  Saddler  *  *  and  Richard 
Rozzell  *  *  witnesseth  *  *  That  in  consideration  of 
fifty  dollars  *  *  a  parcel  of  land  in  State  and  county 
aforesaid,-  immediately  at  said  RozzelPs  Ferry,  bound  as 
follows  *  *  *  containing  three  fourths  of  an  acre  *  *  *, 
with  the  following  exceptions  to  wit;  it  is  understood  that 
the  said  Rozzsll,  his  heirs  and  assigns  are  hereby  debarred 
from  building  or  erecting  any  house  or  placing  any  family  to 
live  or  reside  on  said  land  or  premises  or  to  interrupt  or 
molest  the  meeting  house  or  people  meeting  *  *  *  which 
land  the  said  Saddler  will  warrant  and  defend  against  all 
persons  whatsoever  exclusive  of  above  exceptions.     *     *  " 

According  to  the  terms  of  a  swap  of  land  made  in  1832, 
John  Rozzell  was  to  give  the  church  a  deed  in  fee  simple  for 
an  acre  of  land  nearly  one  half  mile  from  the  ferry,  the  con- 
sideration was  to  be  the 


SOUTH   FORK   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION.  23 

bank. 

The  old  house  was  removed  and  stood  on  the  new  site  until 
it  was  crushed  by  the  weight  of  snow  on  its  roof  in  1852. 
The  membership  being  too  weak  to  rebuild,  a  "stand"  was 
erected  in  the  grove,  at  which  preaching  was  continued  at 
indefinite  periods  of  time  until  1883. 

The  organization  having'  been  dissolved  in  1853  other 
denominations  were  allowed  the  use  of*  the  stand — the  Luth- 
erans, Presbyterians,  Methodists,  etc. 

The  Methodists  organized  a  society  at  that  place,  have 
erected  a  house  of  worship  and  now  hold  possession  of  the 
site.  On  the  7th  day  of  February,  1883,  before  the  Metho- 
dists began  to  build,  brother  J.  C.  Fichte  addressed  a  letter 
to  A.  C.  Rozzell,  then  in  possession,  in  which  he  used  the 
following  language: — "I  do  want  you  to  relinquish  your 
claim,  or  whatever  of  claim  you  may  think  you  have,  to  old 
Hebron  church  tract.  We  expect  to  reorganize  the  church 
and  we  are  unwilling  to  surrender  the  site,  for  which  we 
have  a  deed  from  John  Rozzell,  dated  in  1832.  This  deed 
has  never  been  recorded,  etc."  A.  C.  Rozzle  disregarded 
this1  letter  and  in  July  1883  conveyed  the  same  land  to  the 
Methodist  church. 

The  deed  from  John  Rozzell  to  the  church  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  an  attorney.  It  was  obtained  from  him  by  an 
order  of  some  one  and  could  not  be  rediscovered.  So  the 
matter  remains  a  mystery.  m 

The  following  named  preachers  are  known  to  have  served 
the  church: — John  Ruker,  1800;  McCrary  and  Hosea  Hol- 
combe  during  the  same  time;  Wm.  Richards,  1820-9;  H.  W. 
Carroll,  1839-46 ;  then  Wade  Hill,  as  missionary  of  the  Broad 
River  Association ;  then  Garrison  and  R.  B.  Jones,  as  mis- 
sionary of  the  N.  C.  Baptist  State  Convention. 

The  Presbytery  which  dissolved  the  organization  in  1853, 
was  compased  of  Elders  Alexander  Abernathy  and  A.  J. 
Cansler.  The  members  went  to  Brmngton  aud  Salem 
churches. 

Elder  Geo.  J.  Wilkie  preached  here  as  missionary  of  the 
•Catawba  River  Association  once  since  the  war. 

In  1883  Elder  John  F.  Morris,  as  missionary  of  the  South 
Fork  Association,  preached  here  a  few  times.     Through  his 


24  SOUTH   FORK  BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 

instrumentality  the  members  of  the  Baptist  churches  resid- 
ing between  Dutchman's  Creek  and  the  Catawba  River,  in 
Gaston  county,  held  a  conference  meeting  at  the  Flat  Rock 
School  House,  near  Mountain  Island,  on  the  8th  day  of  June, 
1883,  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  about  the  propriety  of 
reorganizing  old  Hebron  church.  Bro  Jno  L.  Grice  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  Bro.  John  C.  Fichte,  clerk. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  was  adopted: — 

4 'Whereas,  the  site  of  the  old  Hebron  Church  has  been 
taken  into  possession  by  A.  C.  Rozzell  and  the  deed  for  the 
same  mysteriously  obtained  from  the  office  of  Geo.  F.  Bason, 
Esq.,  and,  whereas,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  legality 
of  our  title,  and  being  unwilling  to  surrender  the  same  there- 
fore, Resolved: — 

"1st.  That  we  reorganize  old  Hebron  Church  and  that  we 
meet  for  that  purpose  at  the  school  house  on  the  old  site  on 
the  6th  day  of  July,  1883." 

Afterward  the  time  of  organization  was  postponed  until 
the  5th  day  of  October,  1883,  when  Elders  J.  F.  Morris  and 
T.  W.  Upton,  Deacons  John  B.  Stowe,  J.  M.  Hollebaugh  and 
J.  R.  Underwood,  met  at  the  old  site  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M. 
Brethren  J.  L.  Grice,  J.  M.  Bumgarner  and  J.  C.  Fichte,  were 
also  present.  Mrs.  W.  F.  Cannon  had  requested  a  letter 
from  Salem  church  to  join  in  the  organization.     *     *    *    * 

"Our  intention  was  to  occupy  the  school  house  at  the  old 
site,  but  the  privilege  was  denied  us  by  W.  F.  Cannon,  who 
said  he  had  locked  us  out  because  he  was  not  willing  we 
should  reorganize  the  church  at  this  place.  After  consulta- 
tion we  agreed  to  meet  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  at 
the  Flat  Rock  School  House.  Here  the  reorganization  took 
place,  Deacon  Jonn  B.  Stowe,  chairman;  John  M.  Hollo- 
baugh,  Secretary. 

"The  following  persons  presented  letters  and  were  enrolled 
as  members: — 

"Deacon  J.  R.  Underwood  and  wife,  Mary;  Brethren  J.  L. 
Grice,  J.  M.  Bumgarner  and  John  C.  Fichte.  That  evening 
the  names  of  several  newly  baptized  members  enrolled. 
Bro.  John  L.  Grice,  was  elected  clerk. 

"The  above  historical  sketch  was  adopted  as  a  part  of  the 
church  record  by  the  church  in  conference   on   the   13th  of 


SOUTH  FORK  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  25 

September  1886. 

John  L.  Grice,  Clerk." 
"This  historical  sketch  has  been  published  to  inform  the 
public  of  the  trials  and  persecutions  to  which  Hebron  Bap- 
tist church  has  been  subjected,  and,  also,  to  ask  all  gener- 
ously disposed  persons  to  assist  this  weak  and  struggling 
congregation  to  erect  for  themselves  a  house  of  worship  upon 
their  recently  purchased  site. 

"Let  all  contributions  be  sent  to  the  address  of 

Elder  John  F.  Morris, 
Stanley  Creek,  N.  C." 
[N.  B.     I  have    abbreviated    the  sketch   and  made  some 
slight  alterations  of  verbiage  in  order  to  do  so. — G.] 


hi— earhardt's  church. 

The  road  leading  from  South  Carolina  to  Beattie's  Ford, 
(which  was  the  crossing  place  on  the  Catawba  for  travel), 
near  the  Ford  intersected  the  "State"  road,  which  was  laid 
out  by  act  of  the  Provincial  Legislature  in  1763,  and  led  from 
Wadesboro,  by  Salisbury,  to  Morgan— -town. 

Six  miles  from  Beattie's  Ford,  and  near  a  branch  of  the 
State  road,  was  Earhardt's  church,  which  was  constituted  in 
the  last  century.  It  was  about  fourteen  miles  from  Hebron 
and  Long  Creek  and  near  the  road  which  would  be  travelled 
in  going  from  either  of  them  to  Union  ( Warlick's)  and  Mount 
Ruhama,  the  next  churches  organized  in  this  territory. 

Abram  Earhardt,  upon  whose  land  the  house  was  located, 
and  for  whom  it  was  called,  came  from  Pittsylvania  county, 
Va.  He  was  here  as  early  as  1763 ;  was  an  ordained  minister 
and  preached  at  the  church  and  elsewhere.  He  owned  more 
than  a  thousand  acres  of  the  best  quality  of  land  in  this  sec- 
tion, also,  a  number  of  slaves,  whom  he  desired  to  liberate  in 
his  will,  but  thought  they  would  be  worse  off  free  in  Africa 
than  slaves  in  this  country.  He  died  in  1809.  He  built 
the  first  flouring  mill  in  this  region,  also  conducted  a  saw 
mill,  cotton  gin,  tan  yard,  blacksmith  shop  and  a  distillery. 
His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Peter,  Jacob  and  Abram  Forney, 
the  most  influential  men  of  that  period.  Some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  their   families  were   members  of  the  church.     The 


26  SOUTH   FORK  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION. 

Forneys  married  Abernethys  related,  to  those  at  Hebron. 

Preaching  was  continued  at  the  church,  or  in  the  orch- 
ard at  the  house,  until  the  death  of  the  widow  in  1829. 
There  was  a  burying  ground  at  the  church.  Here  he,  his 
wife,  and  many  of  their  neighbors  were  buried.  Only 
unlettered  stones  mark  the  graves. 

Those  who  could  have  given  a  history  of  the  church  have 
passed  away  and  what,  no  doubt,  was  an  interesting  chap- 
ter in  Baptist  history  will  never  be  recorded. 

The  site  is  now  owned  by  the  writer.  It  is  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  Kid's  Chapel.  A  grand  niece  of 
Mr.  Earhardt  and  her  children  are  members  of  Kid's 
Chapel. 

IV — UNION,     OR  WARLICK'S 

Is  in  Burke  county,  five  miles  from  Hickory.  It  was 
organized  in  1815  by  Hosea  Holcombe,  and  united  with  the 
Broad  River  Association  that  year.  Its  first  location  was  at 
the  Mountain  and  it  was  known  as  the  ''Mountain  Meeting 
House."  Mr.  Holcombe,  who  came  from  Virginia,  was  born 
in  1780.  He  was  the  most  influential  and,  probably,  ben4", 
educated  minister  of  his  time.  He  continued  as  pastor  until 
1820,  when  he  removed  to  Alabama,  and  was  a  pioneer 
Baptist  of  that  State.  Cathcart  in  the  Baptist  Encyclopedia 
places  his  labors  in  upper  South  Carolina.  This  was  prob- 
ably because  he  belonged  to  the  Broad  River  Association.  I 
think  mcst  of  his  time  was  spent  in  this  State.  The  meet- 
ing house  was  afterwards  removed  from  the  Mountain  (Bak- 
er's) to  the  present  site. 

Hosea  Holcombe  baptized  Alexander  Abernethy  (of  the 
Hebron  Stock)  in  1827.  He  succeeded  him  as  pastor  of  Union 
and  served  it  for  fifty  years. 

V — MT.    RUHAMA 

Is  in  Catawba  county,  seven  miles  southeast  of  Newton, 
on  the  road  leading  from  Hebron,  on  Long  Creek,  via  Ear- 
hardt's,  to  Union. 

It  was  organized  in  1816  by  Drury  Dobbins  and  Joroyal 
Barnett,  missionaries  of  the  Broad  River  Association,  with 
thirtyeight  members.  It  united  with  the  Broad  River 
Association  that  year,  and  continued  a  member  until  the 
foundation  of  the  Catawba  River  Association  in  1827. 


SOUTH   FORK   BAPTIST   ASSOCIATION. 


27 


The  history   of  these  churches  will  be  continued  in  the 
Catawba  River  and  South  Fork  Association  periods. 


The  following  ministers  were  active  in  this  territory 
during  its  connection  with  the  Broad  River  Association:  — 
Hosea  Holcombe,  Drury  Dobbins,  Benjamin  Hicks,  Joroyal 
Barnett,  Thomas  K.  Pursely,  Ambrose  Carlton;  Fields  Brad- 
shaw,  of  Mt.  Ruhama ;  Julius  Holland  and  James  Lewis,  of 
Long  Creek;  Alexander  Abernathy,  of  Union. 


I  acknowledge  indebtedness  to  Logan's  Sketches  of  the 
Broad  River  and  Kings  Mountain  Association  for  great 
assistance  in  preparation  of  the  above. 

October  1st,  1899.  W.  A.  Graham. 


6 We,  the  Bap* 


CORRECTION. 
Page  20,  paragraph  6,  line  1,  should  read^ 
tist  Church  of  Christ,  etc." 

The  committee  on  obituary   was  composed  of  Rev.  C.  M. 
Murchison. 


pi 


